B. An Unusual Sherbet Spoon the Stem and Bowl Both Carved of Walrus Ivory

C. A Spoon with a Pointed Tortoiseshell Bowl with A Green Stained Ivory and
Brass Inlaid ivory Stem with a Coral Finial.

These exotic and luxurious spoons were used at table in the Topkapi palace to help oneself from a communal dish of ‘hosaf’, a sort of wet fruit stew, the nearer side of the spoon being used for eating or sipping and the far side for helping oneself. Although knives were employed for cutting up meat, the use of forks was a Western European Practice and the use of spoons such as these at table was frowned upon by strictly orthodox Muslims who held that the prophet found his right hand quite adequate as a tool for eating.